A limited choice, and one that is easy to answer. When both available, I prefer both equally. Letaba has The view from the restaurant that is perhaps only exceeded in awe-gasping delight by Olifants'. Both camps have a lovely ambience, although the magnificent shade trees and birding opportunities leans a tick the way of Letaba. Shingwedzi has the marvellous Kannidood Dam, Red Rocks, and Mphongolo Loop roads, while Letaba has the Engelhardt Dam, Phalaborwa road, Olifants tar and riverine drives; both superb. Given a choice, I have no choice; whichever one I go to I am inspired. Sadly, Shingwedzi will be out of commission for a while; let's hope it will get back to its former glory.

Hi fellow travellersI am planning a trip to the Northern Kruger and need some advice on the best camps to visit north of Letaba. I would definitely like to stay at Punda Maria, but am toying between where else to go. I don't like to jump too much, so would like to preferably keep it down to 3 camps, possibly staying 2 nights at each.In the Mopani area, would Mopani or Shimuwini be better? Any advice would be most welcome.Terry.

Have you considered Shingwedzi? It is a lovely old camp and almost finished with the refurbishing after the flooding in January. There are very nice drives in the area. Bateleur is also a lovely camp, I haven't stayed there myself but have it on good authority. Mopani is also nice with lovely views of the dam and I have heard that the restaurant there is good.

Have a look at roaneric's trip report Roaneric's annual KNP visit as she takes you on a drive through several northern camps using a dashcam in the car. Cheetahlady also comments on some of the northern camps in her recent trip report Water, water everywhere ...

going to the North, what a good choice I love it, no crowded... contrario of the South

I love Mopani for the view (if you ask for a bungalow with it)Shimuwini is nice too, I love tooboth well situated, near Mooiplaas and Tiongonyeniand what about Bateleur, nice for birding and Sirhenidon't forget the S56 (between Shingwedzi and Babalala) for me one the most beautiful road in the park from Punda Maria (I love the tents) don't forget to go to Pafuri... and say hello to Franck, please

Last edited by anne-marie on Mon Sep 02, 2013 4:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eyeLe Petit Prince back home...

Talamati is a beautiful, peaceful bushveld camp, and the game viewing is often good around there. I do however have slight reservations about the lack of road variety there, and that parts of the road from Talamati to the Rabelais Hut is often very corrugated. Not sure what its state is at the moment.

So I needs my fellow Kruger mites to give some advise again please.....

If you had give or take 10 days in the park (camping with tent or caravan) which camps would you go to.

The following factors must be kept in mind pls:1. We will have 2 kids with us (4 and 6)2. We would prefer going from middle(not higher than Letaba/Olifants) to the South.3. We would like 2 nights in a camp but not more than 3.

Done this trip quite a few times and have found the following to work well (especially with kids)

1) Letaba 3 nights (assume you get there late) Kids love Letaba the pool and elephant hall, film shows etc keeps them well occupied. Letaba also IMHO has the best camp site in Kruger.

2) 3 nights at Balule It still has a wild feeling to it and this apeals to the kids, if you need all the big camp facilities *(shop etc) then Olifants is right there. The game viewing south of here is great, a good day trip is down to Satara and spend the mid day there and drive back up to balule. ( a very special camp)

3) 3 nights at Berg n Dal A great camp with all the normal attractions for the kids(pool , film shows etc) it also has a great walk along the perimeter fence. the game viewing is lso gret around here

You need to spend more than 2 nights ina camp, as the packing up and pitching camp becomes a mission.

I have given this some thought this evening and went back to the trip we did with our grandson - although he was a bit older than your children (he was 10 at the time) but still at an age when to spend an entire day in a vehicle was definitely not an option. So, my suggestions, for what they are worth:-

Letaba - a lovely atmosphere, the walk along the perimeter and out across the river bed (great for the kids to do a bit of their own spotting) the Elephant Hall and our grandson just loved the bushbucks who roam around the camp. Lots to see in the area and you can break up the day with stops at Oliphants or the big hide close to Phalaborwa Gate (having a senior moment and forget the name).

Balule - a lovely wild feeling camp and close enough to Oliphants and Satara for breaks to eat or look at river views or a pool. Then when you get back to camp at night, various animals come close to the perimeter fence and then a quiet place so the kids will sleep well.

For the final camp I am torn between Crocodile Bridge or even Skukuza. In the past we always avoided Skuks because it is so big but having stayed there on several occasions in recent years, once the camp gates have closed, it is actually really quiet. Sam loved walking along the fence to see what was about in the river bed and during the day, especially if it is very hot, a spell at Lake Panic would keep everyone entertained for as long as you want. If they need another walkabout, then the Nursery is somewhere for another break.

Wherever you decide to stay, may I wish you all a fantastic trip. It is now more than 3 years since we brought Sam and he is still talking about it!

We spent many parts of holidays at Pretoriuskop when the kids were small and, a couple of years ago, introduced our one grandson to Kruger by staying there. The pool is a great drawcard and the resident Impala "herd" also entertained them immensely. Also close enough to Skukuza for a day/half day trip in that area.Our suggestion is:Pretoriuskop 3 nightsLetaba 4 nightsSatara 3 nights

.......but whatever you choose -Enjoy!

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."Benjamin Franklin